The 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival With Best Foods Mayo is about to get even camper with the New Zealand Comedy Trust’s brand new event - Loud & Queer, a celebration of Aotearoa’s LGBTQIA+ comedians and the capital’s iconic queer community - Saturday 20 May at Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington’s spectacular St James Theatre. This one-night-only extravaganza will be hosted by certifiable local hero and drag queen Judy Virago, and uber popular comedian and parody king Tom Sainsbury.

The Doc Edge International Documentary Film Festival is back for its 18th year and is set to make a massive impact with an exciting line-up of films, a captivating XR Exhibition, the prestigious Doc Edge Awards, an engaging Schools Programme and live events. The festival will run from 24 May to 9 July in Auckland at The Capitol Cinema (24 May – 5 June), Wellington at The Roxy Cinema (7 – 18 June) and nationwide online at docedge.nz(19 June – 9 July), so no matter where you live in the country, Doc Edge is here to entertain, inform and expand your mind.

Hailing from Old Hickory, Tennessee, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze has been recognized this year as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” by The Atlantic Magazine and a “Rising Star,” by CBS Morning.

Taking place across the entirety of Tāmaki Makaurau April 13-22 2023, HER Festival is Aotearoa's only multi-genre festival bringing together community by, and for women.

Nightsong is delighted to return to the stage with their 2022 underground hit - THE WORM playing at Bruce Mason Centre 5 April, ahead of a school holiday run from 11 - 22 April at the Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre.

After three years of absence from Auckland’s theatre scene, the annual Pacific Dance Festival will finally return to our stages from 1 – 16 June. The 2023 festival programme represents the international partnerships which celebrate the diversity and richness that the Pacific brings to the dance and arts landscape of Aotearoa.

Crack open the diary! The highly anticipated 30th anniversary year of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is almost here. This year’s Comedy Festival will be three jam-packed weeks of big laughs and epic live comedy experiences, featuring more than 150 local and international comedians in over 600 performances. Taking place across the month of May, the full programme and tickets go live at midday Wednesday 8 March.

Adapted from iconic UK author Philip Ridley’s novel, Dakota of the White Flats is a high-action, pulpy punk noir which celebrates brave, rebellious and unapologetic young women. Returning after a 2021 premiere season cut short by a series of lockdowns the production is now set for a rip-roaring tour of Auckland, Hamilton, Whangārei, Kerikeri and Wellington from April 26 2023. 

Following a highly successful 2022 tour of Krishnan’s Dairy, Indian Ink are back on the boards with a joyful comedy that celebrates an unsung hero and tips the modern office on its head. Featuring over twenty people on stage, the fun-filled production that is Dirty Work tours to Auckland, Nelson, Christchurch, Wellington and Tauranga from 16 June – 20 August.

Tim Bray Theatre Company are set to present another massive year of outstanding children’s theatre to captivate Auckland audiences both young and old, kicking 2023 off with the return of The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch, from 1 April – 6 May in Takapuna, Manukau and Māngere.

The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) returns to the ASB Waterfront Theatre in April to premiere Stage of Being, a thrilling double bill celebration of choreographic voices from Aotearoa’s Sāmoan and Chinese dance makers.

Witi’s Wāhine is a theatrical taonga based on the literary matriarchs within the writing of Witi Ihimaera DCNZM QSM (Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki) and lifted from the page by the beloved Nancy Brunning (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tūhoe), now given a major new production at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 2 – 21 May 2023.

The ultimate observer, Ismo is able to make people see familiar things anew through his unique perspective. He returns to New Zealand in May with his brand new show.

Ahead of the 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo, the New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the first five names who will take to the stage at the 2023Best Foods Comedy Gala - Becky Lucas, James Nokise, Lloyd Langford, Guy Montgomery and Two Hearts. This night of world-class comedy, hosted by Melanie Bracewell, will open the Festival on 5 May in Auckland and 6 May in Wellington.

Taking place from the 13 - 23rd April, NELSON JEWELLERY WEEK is a contemporary jewellery festival which celebrates emerging and established jewellery artists from Aotearoa and beyond. Attracting wearers, makers and viewers from up and down the country, there will be a range of events to celebrate jewellery as a contemporary art form - from avant garde to wearable and everything in between.